Manchester United failed to go top of the Premiership last night but that turned out to be the least of their problems. Yet again Old Trafford's season has been thrown into turmoil by the nitro-glycerine in human form that is Eric Cantona.

For the record, Crystal Palace deservedly took a point from a scrappy, scruffy match after Gareth Southgate had brought the scores level 11 minutes from the end, David May having given United the lead early in the second half. Thus Blackburn Rovers still lead the Premiership, albeit by one point, and they now have two matches in hand.

The rest paled into insignificance compared with the off-field activities of Cantona, who briefly went berserk four minutes after half-time. The Frenchman had an thoroughly unhappy evening: from the outset he was complaining about some of the tackling he received and when Shaw caught him from behind in the 48th minute the notoriously short Gallic fuse was reignited.

A linesman flagged as Shaw's tackle went in, and if the referee, Alan Wilkie, had stopped the play at that point considerable trouble would have been avoided. As it was, Cantona kicked Shaw as the pair went for a high clearance from Schmeichel seconds later.

Out came the red card and off went Cantona, for the fifth time in 16 months. As he walked along the touchline towards the dressing room a young spectator raced to the front of the stand and as well as hurling abuse, verbal and digital, at the Frenchman he appeared to throw something as well.

Cantona immediately leapt at the fan, both feet coming in chest-high. The Frenchman then threw several punches before police, stewards, team officials and other players pulled the pair apart. In the melee Ince appeared to swing a fist at another fan.

Two spectators were taken to South Norwood police station complaining of assault. Cantona now faces another ban for the dismissal and an even longer suspension by the Football Association which will, in turn, depend on what the police decide to do once they have studied the incident on video.

Chief Supt Terry Collins said that both Ince and Cantona, who were allowed to travel home, would be interviewed by police during the next 48 hours. 'I've never seen anything like it in my life,' he added. 'There could have been a riot.'

The FA was prompt in issuing a statement last night which made the severity of the incidents clear and hinted at equally severe sanctions against Cantona.

The statement said: 'The FA are appalled by the incident that took place by the side of the pitch at Selhurst Park tonight. Such an incident brings shame on those involved as well as, more importantly, on the game itself.

'The FA is aware that the police are urgently considering what action they should take. We will as always co-operate in every way with them. And as far as the FA itself is concerned, charges of improper conduct and of bringing the game into disrepute will inevitably and swiftly follow tonight's events.

'It is our responsibility to ensure that actions that damage the game are punished severely. The FA will live up to that responsibility.'

The FA customarily takes a grim view of players and managers assaulting fans. Brian Clough was banned from the touchline for a spell after cuffing a pitch invader. Given Cantona's already poor disciplinary record, he may well be facing a lengthy suspension just when Manchester United need him most.

Gifted footballer though he is, the Frenchman has again demonstrated the fatal flaw in his temperament which eventually saw him quit league football in France after a series of run-ins with the authorities.

Since joining Manchester United from Leeds he has proved inspirational in the winning of two championships as well as last season's league and FA Cup double, but the devil in his make-up has never really gone away.

In last season's European Cup he was shown the red card at the end of the game against Galatasaray in Istanbul for calling the referee a cheat, having already punched the Turkish team's reserve goalkeeper as he sat on the bench.

Last March he was shown two red cards in four days, at Swindon and Arsenal, and he began this season under suspension having been dismissed at Ibrox.

Last night, on a heavy pitch which cut up badly and with Cole still ill-attuned to his new surroundings, Manchester United needed Cantona at his best, not his insufferable worst. After all, two seasons ago an outstanding goal from the Frenchman against Palace at Selhurst had set United up for the title.

Last night their passing did not improve until the few minutes allowed in the second half before all hell broke loose. Palace had created the clearer scoring chances up to that point, but within six minutes of Cantona's explosion May headed Sharpe's cross past Martyn to score his first league goal for United since arriving from Blackburn.

'Strange: all the fuss seemed to affect us more than them,' said Palace's manager Alan Smith. Ten-man United did reorganise themselves well and as Sharpe hit the bar they seemed bound for the top of the Premiership once more.

Then May's slowness let in Salako, whose shot was blocked, and amid a tumble of bodies Southgate's cool shot brought the scores level.